Kalos, Parfum Palace.
"Lady Mallow, are you preparing to depart for the Sinnoh region?" a geisha asked softly.
Before her, glossy black hair cascaded like a waterfall down to the woman's waist.
The woman's attire was strikingly eye-catching—resembling unfurled pink wings yet blending traditional kimono elents with modern fashion.
Mallow turned around in her tall wooden sandals, bright eyes peeking over her sleeve as she smiled: "Yes, Mr. Wallace has introduced
to a coordination master."
The geisha seed to realize sothing and said respectfully:
"Is it the fashion designer from Kizuna City, Miss lisa?"
Mallow gently shook her head, the long ear-like hair ornants swaying: "It's Mr. Lu Ye from White Poplar Town—soone on par with Mr. Wallace."
Instantly, the entire Parfum Palace fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Young girls practicing music with dreams of becoming performance artists all turned their gazes.
Maintaining her professional smile, Mallow hid her face behind her long sleeve:
"That champion who faced the Temporal-Spatial Twin Dragons... Teacher Lu..."
A wave of hushed exclamations arose.
Mallow's gaze swept over the blushing cheeks of these girls at the age of budding romance.
Between Wallace's elegant performances, Steven's handso looks and wealth... Teacher Lu held equally high popularity.
And among male fans, his self-made gas and casual tournants made him feel more relatable.
Mallow suddenly felt curious about eting this legendary Teacher Lu.
"Lady Mallow, your luggage is ready," another geisha whispered.
Nodding gently, Mallow spoke softly:
"To Sinnoh first... then back to Ecruteak City in Johto..."
The geishas who had co from Ecruteak to Kalos could now briefly reunite with their families—
Though the ti would be short, it was enough to fill them with gratitude.
Kimono-clad girls knelt in unison, fabric rustling as they bowed to Mallow.
Her faint smile remained, eyes shimring slightly.
The weight I carry isn't mine alone.
There's this Parfum Palace... my duty as Fairy-type Gym Leader... Ecruteak's history...
April 4th, Sunday.
The cherry blossom groves near Masago Town were in full bloom, painting the landscape in swathes of pink.
Lu Ye adjusted his breathing during a leisurely morning jog with his Arcanine, exchanging greetings with townsfolk along the way.
At a fork in the road, he encountered the silver-haired, mustachioed Professor Rowan—not in his lab coat but a tank top showing off muscular arms, with a sweat towel draped over his shoulder:
"Morning run?" Professor Rowan asked.
Lu Ye nodded dumbly.
"Together then." With that, the professor increased his pace, quickly taking the lead.
After a stunned pause, Lu Ye grinned:
"Don't say I'm bullying an old man!"
Catching up instantly, he left the wide-eyed professor struggling in vain to keep up.
"C-can't... run anymore!"
"What... was... that?" Lu Ye shouted from a distant hilltop.
Professor Rowan: "...No sportsmanship!"
By an old bus stop sign, a coach slowly passed by.
Wiping his sweat, the professor accepted the water bottle Lu Ye offered: "Ah, thanks."
"No problem, just ask Haunter if you need more."
"Gengarrr! (￣▽￣)／" Haunter waved from inside a vending machine, arms subrged.
Professor Rowan: "...Isn't that stealing?"
"Is it?"
"I-isn't it?" The professor hesitated.
"Must be your eyes playing tricks—that's just Double Team."
Blinking blankly, the professor unscrewed the cap and took a sip:
"Have you finalized your conference paper?"
"Didn't submit one."
Surprised, Rowan said: "But I saw your and Cynthia's nas on the group list?"
Lu Ye: "..."
Patting Lu Ye's shoulder, the professor chuckled:
"Youthful matters—I understand... Besides, I helped bring you two together."
He even winked, the playful gesture oddly jarring on his stern, wrinkled face.
Lu Ye coughed awkwardly: "You... knew?"
"Wondered why you suddenly ca to Sinnoh," Rowan snorted. "All my previous invitations you declined, yet the mont Cynthia went to Shanghai, here you are!"
"Do you really think I'm like that?" Lu Ye said solemnly.
The professor paused, opening his mouth to say he'd been joking—
"You read
perfectly!" Lu Ye laughed.
Professor Rowan: "..."
Watching the professor stomp off in the wrong direction, Lu Ye called out:
"Doc, wrong way—the lab's over there!"
"How do you know the layout better than ?"
"Coming back this afternoon for training," Lu Ye grinned. "Maybe tell the rangers to expect ...?"
Rowan side-eyed him: "Just don't cause damage."
Lu Ye thumped his chest: "No problem!"
The afternoon would involve tactical drills simulating "Rain Dance
Perish Song" strategies.
With the Pokémon: Battle version update introducing Dynamax, Lu Ye wondered how his skills would translate.
"Did Leon bribe Devon Corp? Instead of buffing Steven's unbeatable ga tagross, they powered up Leon's Dynamax Charizard?"
Puzzled at first, realization struck: "Ah... Leon's broke. Never mind."
Another possibility—Leon had signed as Devon's spokesperson to promote Pokémon: Battle in Galar.
To help Galarian trainers adapt, Dynamax beca the first major update.
As for why a certain tactical strear—neither the company heir nor a sponsored creator—got nerfed?
Well... Dynamax fundantally disrupted battle tactics, reducing matches to pure power struggles where strategy mattered little—
A reason many trainers disliked it compared to ga Evolution.
Teacher Lu didn't mind though—
Dynamax moves never miss... and Ally Switch still hasn't been patched out!
"Test the waters with A-Jin first, then restart the stream," Lu Ye mused cheerfully. "Ga profits aside, can't neglect my roots!"
Perfect chance to promote his upcoming Pocket Monsters ga through Pokémon: Battle.
This move? The ultimate cross-promotion—a top strear shilling for "rivals"!
...
Returning ho, he found the plump Delibird ssenger at his door again.
The "penguin" glanced at Lu Ye before waddling away with its sack.
Scratching his head, Lu Ye unfolded the letter—
A tallic object clinked out, making him pause.
[Relic Badge: Resembling three ghostly flas, proof of victory at Kizuna Gym. (When ghost fires burn, _____)]
The letter explained lisa's absence during White Poplar's crisis and included both an apology and the long-overdue badge.
"Just... three more badges left?"
Frowning, Lu Ye felt an ominous premonition—
Shaking it off, he headed inside when an unknown number called.
"Teacher Lu?" A gentle female voice asked.
"No insurance, thanks."
A pause. "I'm from Parfum City, Kalos—"
"Not interested in real estate either." Lu Ye suddenly added: "Actually, lend
100K? Triple returns after appreciation!"
*Crack*—
The sound of shattered expectations.
Mallow opened her mouth, flushed and speechless before finally whispering:
"...Okay."
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